Logitech Announces G29, G920 Racing Wheels For PS4 And Xbox One
Logitech has been selling racing wheel peripherals since the early 2000s. In 2007, the company launched the G25, a wheel with pedals that included a clutch and 6-speed shifter. That wheel was updated in 2010 with the release of the G27. That same wheel set is still for sale today, in the same form.
However, Logitech has just announced a successor to the G27 wheel, the G29, which will be compatible with PC, Playstation 3 and Playstation 4. Along with the G29, the company has also announced a second wheel that will be compatible with Xbox One. The previous generation "G" racing wheel was never compatible with Microsoft's consoles. The company's new G920 has been designed to work with Xbox One and PC.
Both of Logitech's new wheels feature 900 degrees of rotation and dual-motor force feedback, which it claims lets the player sense traction loss and when the car is either under- or over-steering. Using helical gears (the same kind found in vehicle transmissions) is said to provide smooth, quiet and precise steering. Input precision should give thanks to the anti-backlash hardware installed.
Logitech said the two wheels are built for longevity, using quality materials in the construction on both. The wheel shaft makes use of solid steel ball bearings, while the paddle shifters and pedals are made of stainless steel. Hand-stitched leather adorns the wheel. Logitech claimed this is to make it comfortable to use, yet durable.
The new pedal set doesn't look like it has changed much since the G27. The shape of the base unit is identical to the past versions, and the same can be said for the pedal shape. The changes that Logitech focused on were more about function rather than form. The pedals now have adjustable faces which the company said aids in improving heal-toe maneuvers. A non-linear brake pedal has also been added, which should help to mimic the feel of a pressure-sensitive brake system.
Despite the similarities, there are some very obvious differences between the two. The G29 features a set of shifting lights above the central hub. These lights will indicate when either a downshift or upshift is needed. Additionally, you'll find a 20-position dial on the lower right hand and + / - buttons on the left. Logitech said these controls are used to fine-tune driving preferences, and the feature is exclusive to the G29. Each wheel includes a steering wheel stripe that Logitech said gives the driver a visual cue to peripheral vision, so that you can easily tell if the wheel is dialed in correctly. The G29's stripe is metallic blue, while the G920 has a dark chrome stripe.
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Previous generations of Logitech G racing wheels included the shifter in the box, but with this new generation, the company has opted to make it an additional purchase. The Diving Force shifter features six gears and push-down reverse. It will be available this fall and carries an MSRP of $59.99.
The G29 wheel and pedal set will be available in July for a suggested price of $399.99, and the G920 set will be released in October for the same price.
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Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years.
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Vlad Rose Why couldn't they make just one wheel that is compatible with the Xbone, 360, PS3, PS4 and PCs? All that would be needed is both system controller chips in the unit. It would make much more sense to us consumers that have both Sony and Microsoft consoles. Heck, it shouldn't even be that hard to add Wii/WiiU support for that matter....Reply -
Vlad Rose Reply16034969 said:I couldn't agree more but as we all know its a way to get you to buy more stuff.
Or in this case, none as a result as I will look for better options. :) -
jimmysmitty Reply16034864 said:Why couldn't they make just one wheel that is compatible with the Xbone, 360, PS3, PS4 and PCs? All that would be needed is both system controller chips in the unit. It would make much more sense to us consumers that have both Sony and Microsoft consoles. Heck, it shouldn't even be that hard to add Wii/WiiU support for that matter....
Because it is not that simple. There is a lot behind the design that they have to do such as redesign the PCB to support both and have a switch to change to the input types, PS3/PS4 use DInput while 360/XB1/PC use XInput. That would add to the costs of the device making them less appealing in the long run.
Then you have the matter of button symbols. Do they use the PlayStation design or XB/PC design? -
Vlad Rose Reply16035206 said:16034864 said:Why couldn't they make just one wheel that is compatible with the Xbone, 360, PS3, PS4 and PCs? All that would be needed is both system controller chips in the unit. It would make much more sense to us consumers that have both Sony and Microsoft consoles. Heck, it shouldn't even be that hard to add Wii/WiiU support for that matter....
Because it is not that simple. There is a lot behind the design that they have to do such as redesign the PCB to support both and have a switch to change to the input types, PS3/PS4 use DInput while 360/XB1/PC use XInput. That would add to the costs of the device making them less appealing in the long run.
Then you have the matter of button symbols. Do they use the PlayStation design or XB/PC design?
Not that hard on hardware since I have accessories that work on pc, 360, and ps3 at home. It might add a little to the cost, but compared to the asking price of the wheel, the increase isn't that much; especially compared to having to buy a second wheel. For users that have multiple consoles, it would actually be more appealing to them.
As for button symbols, the layout of the buttons are the same. The only issue would be knowing whether A is X or X is square. A person should be able to figure that out without too much trouble.
The biggest reason I think so many companies does this is because Sony and Microsoft tell them so. -
Daniel Ladishew For $399 (without the gearshift knob) I would expect this product to be compatible with PS4, X-box One, PS3, X-Box 360, PC, PS2, N64, Wii, Dreamcast, Wii U, and my Android phone! (iOS costs extra).Reply -
hitman40 ReplyFor $399 (without the gearshift knob) I would expect this product to be compatible with PS4, X-box One, PS3, X-Box 360, PC, PS2, N64, Wii, Dreamcast, Wii U, and my Android phone! (iOS costs extra).
It's better than Thrustmaster's add on shifter which is $120 and doesn't even have a shifter boot. It's pathetic really, who the hell wants the shifter look of an automatic car. -
gio2vanni86 Is it just me or does this price just make me want to stick to buying a Fanatec instead. A real technical breakdown if it truly was made with quality parts would have to be seen. Since no one owns it hard to tell and at that price point who's to say its a bad product. With all the negative reviews on the thrustmaster racing wheel, the market for a perfect combination of steering, shifting with amazing pedals still a long ways off. At that point mind as well just go drive a real car, nothing beats that.Reply